After Fire Damages West Des Moines Man’s Home, Thieves Allegedly Steal Rare Coins

Talk about a bad week. Richard Dean Christenson’s wasn't going well after his house caught fire on Nov. 15.

While it was being cleaned, he became a victim once again.

Christenson’s faithful smoke-alarm maintenance saved him from further tragedy, according to the West Des Moines Fire Department. He had just changed the batteries when the fire department did a house-to-house canvass installing batteries provided by the Energizer Corp.

Christenson and two others living at the Valley Junction home got out safely, as did their dogs. But they weren’t able to live there while it was being cleaned, according to a report on file at the West Des Moines Police Department.

A representative of  cleaning company reported to Christenson that when he arrived at the property on Nov 19, a downstairs window had been broken.

Christenson said he lost 10 Liberty silver dollars with a combined value of about $200. Also reported missing were two complete sets of state quarters, one set minted in Philadelphia and the other in Denver, in protective sleeves. The face value of the coin sets is $25.

Damage to the window was estimated at $200.